Developed countries should provide more funds and technological
support to developing countries to help them address climate
change, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said yesterday at a
regular press conference in Beijing.
This does not mean developing nations should not try on their
own to combat global warming, he added. Developing countries,
including China, should attach great importance to the issue and
face the challenge according to their respective situations and
levels of development.
Qin's remarks came after UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged
China to do more to tackle climate change.
Despite its low per capita emissions, China uses effective
measures to cut green house gases and control their impact on the
environment, Qin said.
Chinese FM visits DPRK
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will meet with top leader of the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Il Tuesday
afternoon, Qin told the press conference.
Yang, who is visiting the DPRK, also held talks with DPRK
Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun on Tuesday morning. The two foreign
ministers agreed to push forward the six-party talks in line with the February 13
joint document, Qin said.
He said Yang would reiterate to the DPRK China's commitment to
resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula by peaceful
means and through consultation and dialogue.
Qin said China was flexible about when the six-party talks would
resume, and would consult with all parties on this issue.
Under an agreement adopted by the six parties during February
talks, the DPRK was supposed to shut down and seal off the Yongbyon
facilities within 60 days in exchange for 50,000 tons of heavy fuel
oil or equivalent aid.
The DPRK recently invited the IAEA to inspect its nuclear
facility, a step welcomed by the international community and a
positive sign for the six-party talks process.
Yang arrived in Pyongyang on Monday for a three-day visit after
concluding a visit to Mongolia. The Korean peninsula nuclear issue
is at the top of Yang's agenda for the trip.
The spokesman said the two foreign ministers praised bilateral
ties, reached a consensus on furthering cooperation and
consultation, and agreed to exchange views on international and
regional issues of common concern.
They also agreed to enhance economic and trade cooperation, as
well as cultural, educational, and tourism exchanges, Qin said.
Calling economic and trade cooperation an important component of
bilateral ties, Yang said China would like to develop cooperation
with the DPRK on agriculture, light industry, mining resources, and
information technology in the spirit of reciprocity and common
prosperity, Qin said.
Kim Jong-il said the DPRK viewed economic and trade cooperation
with China from a strategic perspective, and would increase
investment and trade based on equality and mutual benefit, the
spokesman said.
Export safety
China defended its recent export safety problems, saying it had
taken a responsible attitude and made earnest efforts to ensure the
quality and safety of Chinese products.
Qin attributed the export problems to "misunderstanding,”
illegal producers, and differences in the inspection systems and
policies of China and other countries.
Qin also urged the media not to exaggerate the problems. "We
understand the concerns of consumers abroad about the safety of
food and medicine. Meanwhile we hope the media can cover the issue
in an objective and rational manner," he said.
"We are willing to carry out cooperation with other countries on
product safety and quality," said Qin.
Sino-Japanese Ties
China expressed the hope that progress would continue to be made
with Sino-Japanese ties as the countries commemorate the 70th
anniversary of the War of Resistance.
"At this point in time, we should keep in mind the spirit of
'taking history as a mirror and looking to the future' and properly
handle related issues so as to maintain the momentum of developing
China-Japan relations," said Qin.
Relations have become warmer recently as Japanese Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe made an "ice-breaking visit" to China in October last
year, followed by an "ice-thawing journey" by Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao to Japan in April.
This year is the 70th anniversary of "July 7 Incident," the
beginning of the War of Resistance against Japan in China, and the
Nanjing Massacre. The massacre occurred in December 1937 when
Japanese troops occupied Nanjing, then capital of China, and killed
more than 300,000 citizens.
"The reason why we choose not to forget the past is to cherish
the hard-won peace and happy life and open up a better future," Qin
said.
Ecuador oil conflict
No Chinese workers have been injured in the conflict over a
Chinese-invested oil company in Ecuador, Qin said.
The Chinese government is monitoring the situation closely.
Operations have returned to normal, Qin said, and the production in
the rigs has resumed.
State visits
Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi will head for Singapore on July 9 to
attend two bilateral meetings at the invitation of her Singaporean
counterpart Wong Kan Seng.
Wu and Wong will co-chair the fourth meeting of China-Singapore
Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation and the ninth meeting of
the Joint Steering Committee of the Suzhou Industrial Park.
Wu is scheduled to end her Singapore trip on July 12.
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi is to pay an official visit
to Russia from July 12-15 at the invitation of his Russian
counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar will pay an official
visit to China from July 9 to 13 at the invitation of his Chinese
counterpart Yang Jiechi.
Syrian Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdullah
al-Dardari will pay an official visit to China from July 8 to 11 at
the invitation of the Chinese government.
Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam will pay an
official visit to China from July 7 to 9 at the invitation of
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
(China Daily, Xinhua News Agency July 4, 2007)
